Solid compositions useful in dry cleaning



United States Patent 3,549,545 SOLID COMPOSITIONS USEFUL IN DRY CLEANING Leo Stolmeijer, Nijverdal, Netherlands, assignor to N.V.

Industrieeleen Handel Mij Senzora v/h A. J. Schoemaker & Zonen No Drawing. Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 604,539 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Dec. 28, 1965, 6517034 Int. Cl. Clld 3/26, 7/32 US. Cl. 252-152 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The filter powder and components of the dry-cleaning bath, in addition to the solvent, are added to the bath as a single additive in solid form, containing 108S% by weight of adsorbent, 70% by weight of detergent, 5- 80% by weight of water, and 5-40% by weight of a finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned textile products, and more preferably 30-40% by weight of adsorbent, 15-17% by weight of detergent, 3842% by Weight of water, and 816% by weight of finish.

For the dry cleaning of textile products, such as fabrics and knitwear, use is made of solvents, such as hydrocarbons, and preferably halogenated hydrocarbons, in particular perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.

So-called cleaning enhancers can be added to the solvents. These cleaning enhancers are in general liquid products containing detergents and, if necessary, solvents, such as halogenated hydrocarbons.

It is known that an improved cleaning effect is attained by adding water in conjunction with these cleaning enhancers to the solvent. Especially water-soluble stains are thus removed more effectively. The quantity of water, however, is dependent upon the type of textle material to be cleaned, for example wool, silk, cotton, etc., and in general varies between narrow limits. Too small a quantity of water results in insufficient cleaning, and too large a quantity of water produces great shrinkage.

In addition to the detergent and water, the dry-cleaning bath generally contains a finsh for improving the hand of the cleaned textile products, which finish is usually added separately to the solvent.

Furthermore, it is known that the bath may also contain other substances, e.g. other textile aids, such as antistatic agents, which are usually added separately to the solvent.

Dry cleaning as a rule is carried out in an apparatus consisting of a vessel with a recycle line containing a filter on which a filter aid, such as diatomaceous earth, is present. Frequently the apparatus comprises a built-in water-measuring device and separate tanks for different auxiliary agents. When using this apparatus, the solvent is introduced into the vessel and the filter aid added to the solvent to coat the filter. The apparatus is filled with clothes. After this, the water, the liquid cleaning enhancer, the finish, and any other auxiliary agents that may be desired are measured and added.

Since in practice, dry cleaning is often performed by unskilled labor, errors tend to be made in measuring these components, which errors may result in serious damage to the textile material to be cleaned. Especially the measuring of water is often effected inaccurately and in the workers own way.

An object of the present invention is the provision of compositions useful in dry cleaning, which contain all additives generally used in a dry-cleaning bath.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of solid compositions useful in dry cleaning, which are ice easier and more accurate to measure than the liquid additives.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a simple method of preparing dry-cleaning baths eliminating errors by unskilled labor.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the specification and claims.

It has been found that these objects may be attained by the solid compositions of the present invention, which contain at least a solid adsorbent in finely divided form, a detergent, water, and a finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned textile products.

These solid compositions may also contain other substances, e.g. solvents, dissolving agents, antistatic agents, optical bleaching agents, chemical bleaching agents, such as peroxides and sodium hydrosulfite, special stain-removing agents, such as cyclohexanone, lactic acid, and oxalic acid, hydrophobing agents, fire retardants, preservatives, bactericides, fungicides, insecticides, perfumes, etc. These substances are known to those skilled in the art, and are described in the literature. Furthermore, the compositions may contain sweeteners, that is, acid-binding substances, which prevent the bath from becoming acidic during the dry-cleaning treatment, e.g. lime.

As these compositions may contain all the additives simultaneously, measuring is simplified. Moreover, measuring can be eifected more accurately.

The packaging of these solid compositions is also simplified.

The adsorbents serve to coat the filter, which may contain in addition to the adsorbents of the composition, also additional filter aids.

The solid compositions preferably contain about 10-85% by weight of adsorbent 5-70% by weight of detergent 5-80% by Weight of water, and

540% by weight of finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned textile products.

Particularly preferred are solid compositions containing about 3040% by weight of adsorbent 1517% by weight of detergent 38-42% by Weight of Water, and

8-16% by weight of finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned textile products.

According to the present invention, the solid-compositions are added to the solvents in different quantities depending upon the material to be cleaned. The quantity is preferably 1 to 10 parts by Weight to 1000 parts by weight of solvent.

Any adsorbent known in the art may be used.

Examples of adsorbents which may be used in the compositions according to the invention are diatomaceous earth, silica, alumina, metal silicates, ground or fibrous asbestos, metal stearates, sawdust, cellulose powder, starch, powdered synthetic polymers, cellulose fibers, etc.

Any detergent known in the art may be used.

Examples of detergents which may be used in the compositions according to the invention are neutralized fatty acids, petroleum snlfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, condensates of fatty acids, alkylaryl snlfonates, secondary alkyl sulfates, epoxyethane condensates, sulfuric acid esters of polyethylene-glycol compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds, etc.

Any finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned products known in the art may be used.

Examples of finishes for improving the hand of the drycleaned textile products which may be, used in the compositions according to the invention are terpene resins,

urea formaldehyde resins, paraffin, polyglycols, lanolin, stearin, petroleum resins, alkyd resins, gum resins, waxes, etc. Parafiin and pico-pale resins are to be preferred.

Dry-cleaning compositions are known which contain, besides a detergent, an aggregating agent. The quantity of solid aggregating agent used, however, is relatively small. These known compositions therefore are not solid, but pasty. Moreover they do not contain any dressings.

The invention is further elucidated by reference to the examples given below which, however, should not be regarded as limiting its scope.

EXAMPLE I For the preparation of a composition containing an adsorbent, a detergent, water, and a finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned products, the following components are mixed:

80 kg. of diatomaceous earth,

40 kg. of detergent (a mixture of 16 kg. of 60% petroleum sulfonate [mol. wt. 470], 16 kg. of 80% tetrapropylenebenzene sulfonate, and 8 kg. of nonylphenolpolyglycol ether containing 10 moles of ethylene oxide),

100 kg. of water, and

20 kg. of parafiin powder.

A solid powdery composition is obtained.

EXAMPLE II For the preparation of a composition containing an adsorbent, a detergent, water, and a finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned products, the following components are mixed:

80 kg. of diatomaceous earth,

40 kg. of detergent (the same as in Example I),

100 kg. of water, and

40 kg. of Picopale resin sold by Esso (a saturated petroleum resin of alicyclic structure).

A solid powdery composition is obtained.

EXAMPLE III For the preparation of a composition containing an adsorbent, a detergent, water, a finish for improving the hand of the dry-cleaned products, and an antistatic agent, the following components are mixed:

30% by weight of diatomaceous earth,

10% by weight of fatty acid diethanolamide, 30% by weight of water,

20% by weight of octyl phosphate, and

10% by weight of lanolin.

A solid powdery composition is obtained.

EXAMPLE IV 250 g. of the composition prepared according to Example I are introduced into an apparatus for dry cleaning containing 400 l. of gasoline. Subsequently 25 kg. of woolen knitwear to be cleaned are introduced into the apparatus. Extremely good results are obtained in clean lng.

EXAMPLE V 500 g. of the composition prepared according to Example II are introduced into a dry-cleaning apparatus containing 400 l. of trichloroethylene. Subsequently 25 kg. of woolen mens wear are introduced into the apparatus. Very good results are obtained in cleaning, even with a very low filter pressure.

EXAMPLE VI 25 kg. of raincoats to be cleaned are introduced into a dry-cleaning apparatus containing 400 l. of perchloroethylene. Subsequently 1500 g. of the composition prepared according to Example III are added. The cleaned raincoats are extremely fresh and clean. In this case again, the filter pressure remains very low.

For the cleaning of the same quantity by weight of woolen mens wear or woolen knitwear, 750 g. and 375 g. respectively of the composition prepared according to Example I are added.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Solid compositions useful as a single additive to chlorinated hydrocarbon dry-cleaning solvent baths for textile products, consisting essentially of an intimate admixture of 1085% by weight of finely divided solid adsorbent which is insoluble in chlorinated hydrocarbon drycleaning solvents 570% by weight of organic dry-cleaning detergent 580% by weight of water, and

540% by weight of finish which improves the hand of the dry-cleaned textile products, said finish being soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbon dry-cleaning solvents.

2. Compositions according to claim 1, consisting essentially of A 30-40% by weight of said adsorbent 15-17% by weight of said detergent 38-42% by weight of water, and

816% by weight of said finish.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,041,744 5/1936 Cummins 87-5 MAYER WEINBLATT, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

